English Original
A country maid was walking with a can of milk upon her head when she fell into a train of reflections.
"The money from selling this milk will let me increase my stock of eggs to three hundred. These eggs, allowing for some that may be addle or destroyed by vermin, will produce at least two hundred and fifty chickens. The chickens will be ready for market just when poultry is dearest; so by the new year I'll surely have enough money to buy a new gown. Green—let me think—yes, green suits my complexion best, and green it shall be. In this dress, I'll go to the fair where all the young men will try to win me as a partner; but no—I'll refuse every one of them and turn away with a disdainful toss."
Transported by this idea, she could not help acting out the thought in her mind with a toss of her head—and down came the can of milk! All her imaginary happiness vanished in an instant.
中文翻译
一位村姑头顶着一罐牛奶走在路上，陷入了遐想。
“卖掉这罐牛奶的钱，能让我把鸡蛋存货增加到三百个。这些鸡蛋，就算有些是坏的或被害虫糟蹋了，至少也能孵出两百五十只小鸡。小鸡长成正好赶上家禽最贵的时节；这样到新年时，我肯定有足够的钱买一件新礼服。绿色——让我想想——对，绿色最衬我的肤色，就买绿色的。穿上这件礼服，我要去集市，到时候所有的小伙子都会争着邀我做舞伴；但是不——我要拒绝他们每一个人，然后轻蔑地一甩头，转身离开。”
她被这个念头冲昏了头脑，忍不住随着心中的想法甩了一下头——结果牛奶罐掉了下来！她所有想象中的幸福瞬间化为乌有。